1. Missouri NEA Kari Estes, UniServ Director

2. Who are We? Local Local State State National National Education Professionals Education Professionals –Teachers, Students, Retired, Support Staff, College Professors

3. What do we do? Professional Organization Professional Organization Union Union Advocates Advocates A teacher’s working conditions are a student’s learning conditions.

4. Where are we located? Affiliates in all 50 states Affiliates in all 50 states Puerto Rico Puerto Rico Military bases abroad Military bases abroad Missouri NEA has 6 offices Missouri NEA has 6 offices

5. When did we begin? NEA founded in 1857 by 43 teachers (was first called the NTA) NEA founded in 1857 by 43 teachers (was first called the NTA) 1870 NTA name changed to NEA 1870 NTA name changed to NEA Missouri was one of the founding states of the NEA - called the MSTA Missouri was one of the founding states of the NEA - called the MSTA 1970 creation of the NEA UniServ Program 1970 creation of the NEA UniServ Program 1972 MSTA rejected unification and passed a constitutional amendment that disaffiliated any MSTA local that required unified membership 1972 MSTA rejected unification and passed a constitutional amendment that disaffiliated any MSTA local that required unified membership 1973 NEA disaffilates the MSTA and the Missouri NEA is created by a handful of teachers from about a dozen school districts 1973 NEA disaffilates the MSTA and the Missouri NEA is created by a handful of teachers from about a dozen school districts

6. Why do we exist? Our Mission: Uniting and empowering public education advocates to shape the future of education Our Mission: Uniting and empowering public education advocates to shape the future of education MNEA Core Values MNEA Core Values –Public Education and Students –Member Driven Organization –Member Advocacy A teacher’s working conditions are a student’s learning conditions.

7. The Benefits of Membership Professional Growth Professional Growth Advocacy Organization Advocacy Organization Legal Services Legal Services Economic Advantages Economic Advantages National Association National Association

8. National Association http://www.nea.org/index.html http://www.nea.org/index.html http://www.nea.org/index.html National issues National issues –ESEA aka NCLB –IDEA –Social Security –Vouchers –Tenure –Merit Pay

9. Professional Growth www.mnea.org www.mnea.org www.mnea.org Classrooms and Kids Classrooms and Kids Teaching and Learning Teaching and Learning NEA Grants NEA Grants Read Across America Read Across America Conferences Conferences Networking Networking

10. Member’s Only Site http://www.memberweb.com/memberweb 2K1/main2K1.asp http://www.memberweb.com/memberweb 2K1/main2K1.asp http://www.memberweb.com/memberweb 2K1/main2K1.asp http://www.memberweb.com/memberweb 2K1/main2K1.asp Economic advantages Economic advantages Leaders Updates Leaders Updates Tools you can use Tools you can use

11. Legal Services Professional staff assistance Professional staff assistance EEL Program EEL Program –$4 million in liability coverage –Civil suits –Criminal charges ULSP Program ULSP Program –Division of Family Services –Probationary teacher non-renewal –Tenure teacher contract termination –Other contract or legal issues Attorney Referral Program Attorney Referral Program

12. Advocacy Organization Legislative Legislative –http://www.mnea.org/capitol/ http://www.mnea.org/capitol/ –http://www.nea.org/lac/highered/index.html http://www.nea.org/lac/highered/index.html Political Action Political Action –No dues dollars are used for political contributions! Separate, Additional, Voluntary –Candidate screening based on education issues only Locally Locally

13. The Independence Decision 1945 - Missouri Constitution 1945 - Missouri Constitution –“That employees shall have the right to organize and to bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing." Article 1, Section 29 1947 - Springfield v Clouse 1947 - Springfield v Clouse –Excludes public employees 1965 - 105.500 1965 - 105.500 –Meet and confer 1982 - Sumpter v Moberly 1982 - Sumpter v Moberly –Meet and confer not binding

14. The Independence Decision Public employees have right to bargain Public employees have right to bargain Don’t have to agree, if they do, binding contract Don’t have to agree, if they do, binding contract Strikes still illegal Strikes still illegal Bargaining Framework Bargaining Framework –Created by Legislature –By Districts Inherent in CB Inherent in CB –Exclusive, elected representative –Good faith –Duty of fair representation

15. Bargaining Laws K-12 Teachers No Bargaining Law But Limited Bargaining Takes Place No Bargaining Law WA MT STATUS OF COLLECTIVE BARGAINING: FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS NEA COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AND MEMBER ADVOCACY (AS OF APRIL 2003) WY OR IL CA NV TX OK ND SD NE KS IA MN WI MIID INOH PA NY ME MS ALGA SC NC VA WV FL AK TN VT NH MA RI CT NJ DE MD UT HI PR CO AZ MO AR LA KY * Bargaining Law In NM Was Not Renewed In 1999 NM*

16. Bargaining Law Covering Education Support Professionals No Bargaining Law WA MT STATUS OF COLLECTIVE BARGAINING: FOR EDUCATION SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS NEA COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AND MEMBER ADVOCACY (AS OF APRIL 2003) WY OR IL CA NV NM TX OK ND SD NE KS IA MN WI MIID INOH PA NY ME MS ALGA SC NC VA WV FL AK TN VT NH MA RI CT NJ DE MD UT HI PR CO AZ MO AR LA KY

17. Collective Bargaining Meet and ConferBargain Public education employees and board members discuss problems. The school board unilaterally makes decisions. The two parties arrive at mutually agreeable solutions in an enforceable written agreement. When differences exist, the board makes the final decision. A neutral third party assists in resolving differences. The board may meet with as many employee groups as it wishes, pitting one group against another. Employees speak with one voice, a representative they’ve elected. Results are recommendations for the Board of Education to change their policies. Results are complied in a separate binding agreement ratified by both the teachers and Board.

18. What’s the Difference? MSTA filed a “friend of the court” brief jointly with the Missouri Council of School Administrators before the Missouri Supreme Court opposing the collective bargaining rights of teachers and other public school personnel. MSTA filed a “friend of the court” brief jointly with the Missouri Council of School Administrators before the Missouri Supreme Court opposing the collective bargaining rights of teachers and other public school personnel. MSTA does not have the funding or the resources to give proper representation to members. MSTA does not have the funding or the resources to give proper representation to members. http://www.mnea.org/news/Ind_Supreme Court.htm http://www.mnea.org/news/Ind_Supreme Court.htm http://www.mnea.org/news/Ind_Supreme Court.htm http://www.mnea.org/news/Ind_Supreme Court.htm

19. MSTA’s Brief Teachers and school employees might try to negotiate about… Teachers and school employees might try to negotiate about… Before/after school programs (p 20) Lunch duty (p. 21) After school meetings (p. 21) Class sizes (p. 35) Textbook selection (p. 35) Retirement plans (p. 35) Definition of instructional time (p. 35) Extracurricular activities (p. 35) Calendar/schedule changes (p. 35) Length of school days (p. 35) Professional development planning (p. 35) Professional and non-certified employee evaluations (p. 35)

20. The Differences are Important MSTA believes that allowing the experts (you!) that work in our schools to bargain on these subjects would mean that “…the focus will move from acting in the best interest of students…” (p. 36). MSTA believes that allowing the experts (you!) that work in our schools to bargain on these subjects would mean that “…the focus will move from acting in the best interest of students…” (p. 36). By contrast, Missouri NEA believes in the judgment and commitment of the experts (you!) that work in our schools. These experts are exactly the right people to keep the focus on what is best for students. By contrast, Missouri NEA believes in the judgment and commitment of the experts (you!) that work in our schools. These experts are exactly the right people to keep the focus on what is best for students.

21. What do you think? If you believe that the experts (you the teachers) need to have a legitimate voice in decision-making, If you believe that the experts (you the teachers) need to have a legitimate voice in decision-making, If you believe that having a binding contract is a right of professionals, If you believe that having a binding contract is a right of professionals, Then, collective bargaining is the process by which these experts have shared decision- making with the local school board on local issues.

22. Which Would you Choose? Which Association can better work with teachers to bargain and advocate for a fair workplace? Which Association can better work with teachers to bargain and advocate for a fair workplace? –The Association that fought to get those rights and has believed in them all along? The association who has representatives right there with you when you need them in a meeting? OR –The Association that never believed in bargaining and fought to keep those rights from teachers? The Association that says, “I’m sorry, there is nothing we can do.”